Additional Coverage:
- Fire kills 3 people trapped inside Ohio motel room (usatoday.com)
A devastating fire at an Ohio motel early on July 1 claimed the lives of three people who were trapped inside a room, officials confirmed.
The Wooster Township Fire Department responded shortly after 1:30 a.m. to reports of flames at the Econo Lodge. Fire Chief Dallas Terrell stated that 911 dispatchers alerted them to multiple individuals trapped inside the building, which was engulfed in heavy flames that had broken through the roof.
Despite several efforts by firefighters to reach those trapped amid what escalated to a fifth-alarm fire consuming several rooms, their attempts were unsuccessful. The victims were later identified by the Wayne County Coroner’s Office as Hiteshkumar Suthar, Hinaben Suthar, and Isha Suthar.
“This is a horrible tragedy, and our hearts go out to the families,” Terrell said. “All personnel worked tirelessly to save the victims, but unfortunately, three lives were lost.”
The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Firefighters managed to bring the blaze under control after about an hour. One firefighter sustained minor burns during the response.
It is unclear how many guests were in the motel at the time, but aside from the three deceased, all others were evacuated safely. According to hotel employee April Graser, at least two of the victims were hotel staff.
The first 911 call reporting the fire came in at 1:33 a.m., and fire crews arrived within eight minutes to find multiple rooms ablaze and flames bursting through one of the three buildings’ roofs. The fire rapidly spread, engulfing much of the center structure.
Graser recounted receiving a call from Hiteshkumar Suthar during the fire, who reported people trapped inside before the call abruptly ended.
Guest Kiera Curry described waking to law enforcement knocking on her door in a nearby building, urging her to evacuate. She recalled the fear and urgency as she fled down the stairs, worried the fire might cause structural collapse. She also heard the distress of other guests, including a man crying on his knees.
Curry and other displaced residents have been relocated to nearby hotels by the Econo Lodge. “My heart goes out to those who died,” she said.
The Wooster Township Fire Department continues to investigate the incident as the community mourns the tragic loss of life in this early morning fire.
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- Fire kills 3 people trapped inside Ohio motel room (usatoday.com)